Sun Allergies: Types, Symptoms and Treatment.

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Easy to diagnose but ignored some of the time, sun allergies are
caused by reactions of the immune system to sunlight and they
manifest as rashes most of the time, on areas of the skin exposed to
the sun. Find out more about the types of sun allergies and the
proper treatments.

Also known as photosensitivity, any allergy to the sun can be
treated whether they're inherited or caused by prescription drugs
which increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.

Types of Sun Allergies

The most immediate type of sun allergies is the solar urticaria.
Within minutes of exposure to sunlight, the skin starts to show
hives, but this is a rare condition, most commonly present in
Caucasian young women.

PMLE or polymorphous light eruptions is a more common type of
allergy to the sun and affects people from all races and of all ages.
The symptoms can take a while to develop. It's usually observed after
2 hours after exposure, in the form of a sun allergy rash that can
also cause sensation of itchiness and burning.

Actinic prurigo or hereditary PMLE is usually observed in people
with American Indian ethnicity and the symptoms, involving rashes,
usually appear on the face only.

Sun allergies can also be caused by chemicals applied to the skin
or ingested. This type is called a photoallergic eruption and can
even spread on skin that hasn't been exposed directly to sunlight.

Sun Allergy Symptoms

Most common symptoms include redness of the skin, followed by
itching, burning or even pain. Sun allergy symptoms can also include
blisters or hives on skin areas directly exposed to the sun, raised
bumps that may form raised patches on the skin.

In some severe cases, when the first signs are ignored and the
exposure continues, sun allergy symptoms can even include scaling and
crusting of the skin.

Sun Allergy Treatment

Up to 15% of Americans suffer from a form of sun allergy, the most
common being PMLE. Depending on symptoms, you can use topical creams
with corticosteroids, but in the case of a very severe allergy to the
sun, a dermatologist may prescribe oral medication as well.

Sun Allergy Prevention

The best way to avoid the sun allergy rash or any other unpleasant
symptoms is to protect yourself correctly from exposure to UV rays.
Use a sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 and make sure you also use a
special balm for your lips with an even higher SPF.